Learning from a young age, Meshal Harasani found that disabled children are an important part of us; they need our attention, support, and care to help them become an active limb in our social organ. Those were the main principles that inspired the young Saudi inventor to do his part in helping the community to unite and bond.

My main motto is “I am proud of what I do for my country to help people with any type of disability.”

Mobile Phone for the Blind

Meshal Harasani: I invented this when I was 16 years old; the numbers are vocally announced to the user, while the keypad sports Braille system. Even the SMS messages are audibly read to the user by the phone. I managed to create a couple of designs for such a cell phone.

What’s Up: But haven’t such phones been invented already?

MH: That is true; I had a hard time issuing the patent for such a device, so since I wanted users to get their hands on it, I developed the same concept of the device but in software format that any user could get for free, on their Nokia phones.

What’s Up: So it is distributed for free, but where?

MH: People can get that software form Magrabi Centers for free, in association with the Ebsar Organization. As I said they only work on Nokia phones so far, since they are the most popular.

Chess Board for the Visual impaired

Meshal Harasani: I made a prototype of this invention when I was 17 years old; I used simple material like leather, wood, and fabric. The reason was to make it as affordable as possible for the blind to enjoy this game, since most specially-made equipment and games cost a lot on the market.

What’s Up: What inspired you to create this board game?

MH: As a child I found it hard to play football, hide and seek or most games with blind kids; we needed to play games that wouldn’t require them getting harmed in the process, so I thought of this, since all you need to do in order to play chess was to be seated.

Saudi Riyal for the Visual impaired & Blind

Meshal Harasani: The whole idea is made up of two parts; the first was to print bolder and larger digits on one side to help people with weak vision to read them, the other part is supposed to serve the blind by adding Braille on the other side, so that they can touch and read the amount of the different currency denominations.

What’s Up: I remember seeing the Canadian Dollar using such a system.

MH: Well if you notice in the Canadian currency instead of having the large denomination prints, they only use codes, but in our case I wanted to help both types of people, those with poor vision and the blind, by introducing both systems.

We are still waiting for the approvals to come in regarding that.

What’s Up: What are the available statistics, if any, for people who are in need of such technology in Saudi Arabia?

MH: Based on the last research, we are talking around 350 thousand people in the Kingdom, ranging from visually impaired to blind. My view is that when you help one person who is in need, you are helping his or her whole family and friends since this will make them feel independent, and trust in their own ability.

What’s Up: Would it be complicated to emboss Braille on the current Saudi currency?

MH: Not really; I have experimented with that, and all it takes is to reprint the codes right on the existing money we have right now. I even found that the new Saudi currency’s material is great to implement this technique.

Handicap Aircraft Seats

Meshal Harasani: I noticed that when an elderly handicapped lady boards an airplane, the crew gets a hard time carrying her to her seat, added to the religious factor preventing the touching of a female who isn’t a part of your family, which made people uncomfortable.

So I invented a special seat that can be easily carried and placed on and off the aircraft’s seats, without bothering the passengers or the handicapped person in the process.

What’s Up: Have you applied for a patent for this invention?

MH: Not really; my method now is to invent something and give it away to whoever is in need of it, without bothering with the patent which can take up to seven years to process and acquire. Since I am not looking for any financial compensation for these inventions, there’s no need to bother. All I care about is to provide help to those who need it as fast as possible.

What’s Up: Let’s say I have an idea; I want to create an invention, what are the steps I should take to achieve a final product?

MH: First of all, you will have to create a model of the invention, a working one. You have to test it, and make sure it works. Then you should get an application form from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (www.kacst.edu.sa); you pay them the fees to enquire whether that invention has been patented anywhere else before or not. Be prepared for a lengthy and costly procedure as you have to pay for every new enquiry made.

Another way is to apply through the King Abdulaziz & his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (www.mawhiba.org.sa), so they cover all the costs of the research and applying for the patent.

What’s Up: What are the essentials an inventor requires to remain creative?

MH: We need moral support and encouragement, just telling us that we did well in this world motivates us to create more, help more, and be more useful to the whole community that we are part of.

Achievements, Certificates & Recognition Letters:

Recognition Letter from King Abdulaziz & his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity for participating in Ibtikar exhibit in Riyadh.

Recognition Letters from King Abdulaziz & his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity for inventing the Mobile phone for the Blind in 2005.

Recognition Letters form HRH Prince Abdulmajeed Al Saud at Janadriya 22.

Recognition Letter from the Dean of Dar al-Hikmah on Career Day 2007.

Recognition Letter from the Dean of Faculty of Business Administration for contributing for the Cyber Citizenship that was attended by Queen Rania of Jordan, and HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal.

Recognition Letters for taking part on Earth Day 2008 in Riyadh.

Red Bull Gravity Challenge First Prize Award.

Shield Award presented from Saudi Airlines for the invention of the Handicap Aircraft Seats.

An Honorary Doctorate from The University of Dublin in California, U.S.A.